Magic, Witchcraft, and Paganism in America: A Bibliography

Melton, J. Gordon

Over 1,500 publications on the magical religious community in America from colonial times to the present are listed. Its compilation is largely motivated by Melton’s recognition of the need to differentiate pagans and witches from proponents of satanism. Most of the material cited has been previously ignored by scholars, in part due to its relative inaccessibility. Copies of all materials listed may be found in the collection of the Institute for the Study of American Religion in Evanston, IL, which Melton directs. A useful chapter introduces the reader to the magical community, followed by eight major bibliographic subject sections (several with many additional subsections). The sections are titled Background Material, Ritual Magic, Witchcraft, Neo-Paganism, Afro-American Magical Religions, Kahuna, Bruja, and Periodicals. Each section and subsection has an introduction. This is a valuable reference guide for persons interested in approaching parapsychology from the direction of anthropology or religion.